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WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, who is the honorary chairperson for Special Olympics Team Connecticut, praised the athletes for their dedication and called them an inspiration.
“The athletes of the Special Olympics, their courage, their dedication, their passion, the way that they encourage one another to compete and compete as a team is nothing short of inspiring and completely supports one of WWE’s key community service pillars of diversity and inclusion,” she said.
The Connecticut Special Olympic Summer Games are being held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.
Also in attendance at the Stamford event were wrestlers Triple H, who is married to McMahon and is COO of WWE; Titus O’Neil; and diva Natalya. They joined special olympian Michael Hendrick at the event.
U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-4th District) praised Special Olympians for being an example of how to overcome adversity.
“Thank you for being so true to an idea that we hold so dear as Americans, which is the idea that whatever challenges you may face here in this country you get a shot to succeed, you get a shot at dignity, you get a shot to be a winner,” he said.
Robert “Beau” Doherty, president of the Special Olympics of Connecticut, praised the WWE for its support.
“WWE has become a magnet to help us grow in the way we want to,” he said. “Thank you WWE for everything you have done for us.”
He also praised local police for their contribution to the event by participating in the torch run.
Stamford Mayor David Martin, state Sens. Carlo Leone, D-27th District, and L. Scott Frantz, R-36th District, were also present and spoke at the event.
Rookie Stamford Police Officer Bryan Cooper, 23, said veteran officers told him about the event and how important it was.
“It is for a great cause. And it is my first year in the department, so I figured as the new guy it’s a good thing to do," Cooper said. "All the guys have told me about it who have run in the past."
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